The White House on Friday urged Congress to preempt state AI laws it considers overly burdensome, proposing a broad framework aimed at fostering innovation while addressing safety concerns, according to an administration official.
The proposed legislative blueprint outlines six guiding principles, including protecting children, controlling electricity costs, respecting intellectual property rights, preventing censorship, and educating Americans about AI usage. House Republican leaders quickly endorsed the framework and expressed willingness to work across party lines, though passing legislation remains complex amid deep partisan divides.
State governments have already enacted their own regulations for AI, with Colorado, California, Utah, and Texas passing laws that limit data collection and require transparency from companies. The White House emphasizes the importance of federal leadership to ensure consistent standards and maintain public trust, especially as backlash against data centers and rising power costs grow.
In December, the Trump administration issued an executive order to block states from creating their own AI regulations, citing concerns about a patchwork of rules hindering innovation. The administration also opposes federal preemption of state enforcement over general AI laws, advocating for local authority in infrastructure decisions and procurement but calling for restrictions on regulating AI development and penalizing developers for third-party misconduct.
The framework also addresses legal disputes surrounding AI-generated content and copyrighted material, acknowledging ongoing lawsuits and the debate over whether training AI models on copyrighted works infringes on rights. While the administration believes such training does not violate copyright law, it supports judicial resolution of the issue.
Passing comprehensive AI legislation during an election year remains a significant hurdle, but the administration’s proposal aims to build bipartisan consensus by focusing on shared concerns about AI’s potential harms and infrastructure costs, according to policy experts.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
